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Rugby

23rd Sep 2015

Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar named on Springboks bench and fans not happy

South African't

Mikey Stafford

The Springboks have made eight changes from the XV humbled against Japan as they try to get their World Cup campaign back on track, with Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar dropping to the bench.

It appears that punishment will not suffice for enraged South African rugby fans, who seem to hold the Ulster scrum-half responsible for Saturday’s 34-32 loss in Brighton.

Ahead of Saturday’s Pool B clash with Samoa in Villa Park, head coach Heyneke Meyer has given Fourie du Preez his first start of the tournament, alongside new fly-half Handré Pollard.

But the decision to retain Pienaar in the matchday 23 has bewildered lots of angry, angry fans.

https://twitter.com/Rudi_Zeeman/status/646545017285267456

Ouch. Pienaar will be keen to return to the loving embrace of the Belfast faithful at Kingspan Stadium if things don’t improve for himself and the Springboks soon.